Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace

The study examined livelihoods and wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to select 252 households from eight districts. Focus group discussions were used to collect complementary community-level data. Results indicate that average household s...

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Main Authors: Chianu, Jonas N., Ajani, OIY
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43638
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author Chianu, Jonas N.
Ajani, OIY
author_browse Ajani, OIY
Chianu, Jonas N.
author_facet Chianu, Jonas N.
Ajani, OIY
author_sort Chianu, Jonas N.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The study examined livelihoods and wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to select 252 households from eight districts. Focus group discussions were used to collect complementary community-level data. Results indicate that average household size was seven persons. The cropping system was over 70% mixed. Agriculture was the main source of livelihoods. Labour was mainly allocated to crop enterprises, with household heads allocating > 50% of their labour to it. Maize (Zea mays) and common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were the most important staple/traded food crops. Poultry, followed by cattle dominated livestock enterprises. Few households diversified into small businesses, employment and artisan to enhance livelihoods. Despite this, 5 – 95% of people remained food insecure. Lack of cash and limited land access were the most important factors constraining agricultural development. Although, most households preferred selling produce in markets where prices were better, many not only sold produce but purchased inputs from nearest towns due to high costs of accessing better price markets. Wealth inequality among households was very high, with household wealth Gini-coefficient of 0.52 and per capita wealth Gini-coefficient of 0.55, calling for better interventions targeting to reach most vulnerable/marginal groups and create all-inclusive opportunities.
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spelling CGSpace436382024-01-17T12:58:34Z Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace Chianu, Jonas N. Ajani, OIY households home economics income crops family budget rural development poverty hogares economía del hogar renta cultivos desarrollo rural presupuesto familiar pobreza gender The study examined livelihoods and wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to select 252 households from eight districts. Focus group discussions were used to collect complementary community-level data. Results indicate that average household size was seven persons. The cropping system was over 70% mixed. Agriculture was the main source of livelihoods. Labour was mainly allocated to crop enterprises, with household heads allocating > 50% of their labour to it. Maize (Zea mays) and common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were the most important staple/traded food crops. Poultry, followed by cattle dominated livestock enterprises. Few households diversified into small businesses, employment and artisan to enhance livelihoods. Despite this, 5 – 95% of people remained food insecure. Lack of cash and limited land access were the most important factors constraining agricultural development. Although, most households preferred selling produce in markets where prices were better, many not only sold produce but purchased inputs from nearest towns due to high costs of accessing better price markets. Wealth inequality among households was very high, with household wealth Gini-coefficient of 0.52 and per capita wealth Gini-coefficient of 0.55, calling for better interventions targeting to reach most vulnerable/marginal groups and create all-inclusive opportunities. 2008 2014-09-24T08:42:26Z 2014-09-24T08:42:26Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43638 en Open Access Chianu, Justina N, Ajani, OIY, Chianu, Jonas N. 2008. Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya: Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace. African Journal of Agricultural Research 3 (7) 455-464.
spellingShingle households
home economics
income
crops
family budget
rural development
poverty
hogares
economía del hogar
renta
cultivos
desarrollo rural
presupuesto familiar
pobreza
gender
Chianu, Jonas N.
Ajani, OIY
Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace
title Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace
title_full Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace
title_fullStr Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace
title_full_unstemmed Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace
title_short Livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya : Implications for rural development, poverty alleviation interventions and peace
title_sort livelihoods and rural wealth distribution among farm households in western kenya implications for rural development poverty alleviation interventions and peace
topic households
home economics
income
crops
family budget
rural development
poverty
hogares
economía del hogar
renta
cultivos
desarrollo rural
presupuesto familiar
pobreza
gender
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43638
work_keys_str_mv AT chianujonasn livelihoodsandruralwealthdistributionamongfarmhouseholdsinwesternkenyaimplicationsforruraldevelopmentpovertyalleviationinterventionsandpeace
AT ajanioiy livelihoodsandruralwealthdistributionamongfarmhouseholdsinwesternkenyaimplicationsforruraldevelopmentpovertyalleviationinterventionsandpeace